Apple sneaks up on Samsung as device shipments soar in Q4

IDC claims surge in smart connected device market is down to tablet boom, placing further pressure on PC market

Apple has significantly closed the gap on market leader Samsung in the "smart connected device" market in 2012's fourth quarter, according to IDC stats.

For the three months to 31 December, the popularity of iPad Minis and iPhone 5 smartphones sent Apple's shipment share of the market up to 20.3 per cent.

Samsung clung on to the top spot with a 21.2 per cent share of shipments in the same period.

In 2012's third quarter, Samsung's market share based on shipments stood at 21.8 per cent, compared to Apple's share which only reached 15.1 per cent, representing a significant sequential surge in Apple's shipment rate in 2012's final quarter.

Despite narrowly trailing Samsung in terms of shipments in Q4, Apple continued to dominate its nearest rival in terms of revenue share, taking 30.7 per cent of the quarter's sales.

Samsung only managed to grab 20.4 per cent of revenue market share in the same period.

Bob O'Donnell, IDC's programme vice president for clients and displays, said advancements in tablet and mobile technology is so far developed that only screen size differentiates smartphones, tablets and PCs for consumers and business buyers alike.

In the final quarter of 2012, combined shipments of desktop and notebook PCs, tablets and smartphones – which make up the smart connected device market – reached 378 million, with revenue topping $168bn (£111.2bn).

For the whole of 2012, IDC claims worldwide shipments of smart connected devices grew annually by 29.1 per cent, crossing the one billion units mark.

It added that the market expansion was largely driven by a boom in tablet shipments, which grew last year by more than three quarters, surpassing 128 million.

Megha Saini, research analyst at the market watcher, said the recent figures put more pressure on the ailing PC market.

"The pressure on the PC market is significantly increasing and we can see longer replacement cycles coming into effect very soon and that, too, will put downward pressure on PC sales," she added.